The Savannah tribune. [volume] (Savannah [Ga.]) 1876-1960, 1887-07-02

almost filled with various articles of jew
elry, and, therefore, the loss was rather
heavy. OF course the knowledge that
there would be a good reward for the re-
covery of the missing property did not
abate my zeal Still, in spite of my
eagerness to discover the culprit, could
make but little of the case, and might
even have to come over to the opinion of
the '4ocal" but for one very important
fact, namely, the footprints in the gar
den-bed were all smaller than those of
the prisoner. Now, although man may
wear boots several sizes too large for him
on occasion, yet he can hardly walk with
comfort In shoes an inch or so too short
Very much annoyed at my want Of sue
cess, and dreading the chaff would be
sure to get when, compelled to give it
up, / should return to town, was not
particularly delighted next morning to
see Mr.. Muggridge coming up the road
to the house, accompanied by the editor
| of the Barrowtown Banner, who had de-
termined, he said, to write up the &C
count of the robbery himself
But there was 40 escape, and so, pre-
pared for host of questions, was
walking slowly to meet them when my
eyes were caught by something bright
among the bushes by the roadside. Yes,
there could be no doubt of it; there lay
the lost box, empty, of course. Without
stopping, however, l walked as calmly
as possible on to the inspector and was
introduced to Mr., Shears, the editor.
1t was simply wonderful how obliging
I had become. l even, when M. Mug
grldge limited that. he was pressed for
time, volunteered myself to give Mr..
Shears the information he wished, and
to go over the premises with him Once
left alone with the Jealous representative
of the press | gave that gentleman al
the points OF the case, and few more,
as you shall see.
The next afternoon, as soon as a copy
of the Banner came TO the house where
the robbery had occurred-I had for
the last two days spent from the fore
noon to the dusk there-I turned to the
end of the column devoted to the
"Great Robbery" and read, with a
chuckle, the announcement that ''the
loss of the jewels would be less felt had
there not been between the two bottoms
of the box almost two hundred pounds
in bank notes, of which, unfortunately
the numbers had not been taken"
That evening, as usual, l left the
grounds at dusk, after spending most OF
the day in watching-though apparently
engaged in something else-whether any
one went near the spot, few hundred
yards from the grounds, where lay the
box on which ] specially depended as
bait to hook the thief. By walking
slowly managed to let the shades of
evening close around me before was far
beyond the spot where had made up
my mind to watch and await develop
ments.
Eight! Nine! Were they never coming,
and was my trap laid and balted in vain?
Ten! Surely they should have come by
this time. Still-was that sound on
the road7 Yes, and coming from the
village, too. There were evidently
several Of them, and began to regret
not having brought some one to assist
ME.
Nearer they came, laughing and talk
ing, as l cautiously drew further back
from the road. And now they were OPP
posite the spot where the box lay hid.
But-whatl They've gone by; and in
the hearty guffaw of the man farthest
away of the three / recognize Farmer
Lobbins, an honest fellow, whose ac-
quaintance had made. After this sell
l had almost given up, and was actually
making up my mind to abandon the
affair, when a faint sound from down
the road, made me crouch as low as pos
sible once more. 1t was no hoax this
time. A short, thin man, whom easily
recognized as a man-of-all- who
had been helping the gardener that day
was creeping stealthiIy down the road,
close to the bushes. As soon as he
reached the spot where the box had been